A Dallas-based technology accelerator program is hoping the nation's first Accelerator Demo Day last week will evolve into a support system that will help the group fund North Texas startups.

The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Global Accelerator Network jointly hosted the demo day in Washington, D.C., to support high-growth entrepreneurship across the nation. Dallas-based Tech Wildcatters and Austin-based Capital Factory were among 16 accelerators invited to the event.

One of the most interesting pieces of news Draney brought home was that there could be $5 million set aside for accelerator programs next year. The funding is part of the SBA's proposed Growth Accelerator initiative.

"That's what these high-growth companies need, a kick start, and that can be hard to find," Draney said. "We hope that next year, when there’s actually funds available, it (the event) will turn into who are we going to write checks to."

The event, featuring SBA Administrator Karen Mills and GAN Executive Director Patrick Reilly, gave the accelerators the chance to pitch to potential investors the Rockefeller Foundation, IBM and the Blackstone Foundation. It also provided networking opportunities to government officials and SBA personnel.

"It was interesting being put in the entrepreneurs shoes," Tech Wildcatters Executive Director Gabriella Draney said about giving a five-minute pitch of the group, a task she’s used to watching entrepreneurs perform. "It was kind of a getting-to-know you process, more than anything."

Draney also had the opportunity to hear from other accelerators at the event. Although Tech Wildcatters already has mapped out its near-term goals, which include creating a global ecosystem through the accelerator, she considered the insight from others helpful.

"It's always good to be around other people that do the work we do to learn what's working for them, what's not," she said, adding that Tech Wildcatters could consider implementing processes from some of the newer accelerator models. "It's a longer-term payout, but a lot of what we do is."

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